Photo credits: Haydon Perrier & Juliana Berstein
To kickstart 2022 in true fashion, Damian Lazarus and his team celebrated the 10th anniversary of his emblematic Day Zero festival, inside the Dos Ojos cenote, in Tulum.
The year began in Mexican lands and, once again, we embarked on this adventure heading to the town of Chemuyil, which was very active from early on, and the atmosphere of festivity could be already felt. The taquerias and small restaurants were full of people from different parts of the world, who were preparing to live what would be one of the best parties of the season.
From the meeting point that was the local baseball stadium, we began to see the large groups of people boarding the buses that would take us to Day Zero. After a short trip, and a long walk into the jungle, we arrived at the event surrounded by natural beauty and lots of vegetation. The event on its tenth anniversary, had started at 4 PM with an opening ceremony and a live performance by Sidartha Siliceo.
A neon sign welcomed us to the dia cero, and we went directly to the main stage, where the DJ and producer Dennis Cruz was at the helm, who enlivened the party with his characteristic tribal sounds and vocals for a picturesque audience that danced between illuminated trees and lasers. On the Spaniard’s set, we were able to recognize some songs included in his most recent LP entitled ‘Roots’, which was released via Crosstown Rebels.
Late into the night, it was the turn of the Englishman Michael Bibi, who, in a very stylized manner, proposed a clean and energetic set with his well-known tech-house rhythms, including in his session Bart Skills’ remix of the emblematic classic ‘Universal Nation’, by Push, and Dimmish’s ‘Lunar’, which together with the Mayan dancers exacerbated the atmosphere of musical revelry and connection with ancient cultures.
Then it was Steve’s turn, of The Martinez Brothers, who kept the party in high spirits on a dance floor that was at full capacity. The artist from the city of Brooklyn included some well-known songs, and with a clear inclination towards house sounds. Next on the timetable was Seth Troxler, who demonstrated his class as a DJ with an eclectic and masterful set, which included cuts like “Adam Rios – Njalo”, accompanied by a remarkable light show with fireworks. The Michigan-born artist showcased his trademark light-hearted tone with a diverse musical selection.
After an intense and well-deserved dance session, we took a break to explore some of the amenities offered by the festival, visiting the clothing and unique crafts market, in order to appreciate the organization within this environment. It is worth noting that Day Zero focuses on preserving the rainforest, collaborating with local initiatives for sustainability, waste control, and minimization, on-site recycling, and post-production restoration.
Once we relocated to the second stage, we were met by the Italian duo Audiofly, who performed a regal set that moved us, characterized by deep tech and minimalist sounds, typical of their productions on their Flying Circus label, and which recharged our energies to continue in a good mood.
It was already beginning to dawn and we returned to the main room where Damian Lazarus welcomed the father Sun who began to refresh us with his rays. The seasoned magician quickly connected with the audience through dark melodies, vocals, drums, and some unreleased tunes, generating his musical aura and heightening the intensity of Day Zero.
Once again, we decided to continue exploring the place to witness the Russian Nina Kraviz, who increased the bpms, playing the carefully-selected techno that characterizes her. A mix of classics intertwined with other fresher beats made for a most enjoyable session in the morning hours, so that she could then deliver the decks to one of our highlights of the event, Detroit’s own DJ Holographic, who set the night alight with unique energy and unparalleled sounds that made us vibe high in this special cultural meeting.
Finally, we returned to the main stage where Wizardy was, a trio formed by Damian Lazarus, DJ Tennis, and DJ Three, who ended the event with a session worth remembering, including tracks like “Without You”, by Art Department, among other Mayan songs and rituals.
Until next year!
